Pneumatic harness plug assembly or the like

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a plug connector for interconnecting a plurality of conduit means to output passages of a pneumatic programmer, the plug connector having a flexible plate-like body portion with flexible extension means extending from one side thereof to be interconnected to the pneumatic programmer and a plurality of flexible conduits extending from the other side thereof to be interconnected to a plurality of pneumatically operated actuators. The flexible conduits are permanently secured to the flexible body portion of the plug connector so as to facilitate assembling with the pneumatic programmer.

United States Patent Palmer Aug. 29, 1972 [54] PNEUMATIC HARNESS PLUGASSEMBLY OR'THE-LIKE [72] Inventor: Reed A. Palmer, Greensburg, Pa.

73 Assignee: Robertshaw .Controls Company,

Richmond, Va.

[22] Filed: May 4, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 46,575

' Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser; No. 578,687, Sept.12, 1966,

Pat. No. 3,523,700.

521 U.S.Cl. ..9l/37,137/624.18,137/624.20, 251/1491 51 Int. Cl ..Fl5b21/02 [58] Field 61 Search ..91/35, 37; 137/624.18, 624.20; 285/137;251/149] [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS- 3,2s4,5s9 11/1966Golden et a1. ..137/624.18

12/1967 Douglas et a1. ..251/149.7 3,475,996 11/ 1969 Wheeler ..91/373,468,560 9/1969 Cassel ..285/ 137 3,516,691 6/ 1970 Williams et al..285/ 137 3,286,730 11/1966 Beck et a1 1 37/624. 1 8

Primary Examiner-Edgar W. Geoghegan Assistant Examiner-ClemensSchimikowski Att0mey--Candor, Candor & Tassone ABSTRACT This disclosurerelates to a plug connector for interconnecting a plurality of conduitmeans to output passages of a pneumatic programmer, the plug connectorhaving a flexible plate-like body portion with flexible extension meansextending from one side thereof to be interconnected to the pneumaticpro- 'grammer and a plurality of flexible conduits extending from theother side thereof to be interconnected to a plurality of pneumaticallyoperated actuators. The flexible conduits are permanently secured to theflexible body portion of the plug connector so as to facilitateassembling with the pneumatic programmer.

6 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 29, 1972 v v 3,687,009

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 d1 mus 1g FBGJ Patented Aug. 29, 1972 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Patented Aug. 29, 1972 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 29, 1972 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Hells FIG.I4

FIG.I2

Hells PNEUMATIC HARNESS PLUG ASSEMBLY OR THE LIKE This application is adivisional patent application of its co-pending parent application,Ser'. No. 578,687, filed Sept. 12, 1966, now US. Pat. No. 3,523,700, andis assigned to the same assignee to whom the parent application isassigned.

This invention relates to an improved means for interconnecting aplurality of conduit means to a program controlling means for operatinga plurality of pneumatically operated actuator means as well as to animproved method of making such interconnecting means or the like.

It has been found according to the teachings of this invention, that' arelatively expensive assembly procedure has developed in interconnectingflexible conduit-lines between a program control means and variouspneumatically operated actuator means of a FIG. 4 is an enlarged,fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the harness plugassembly of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and illustrates another embodiment ofthe harness plug assembly of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, partial cross-sectional view illustrating oneof the steps in the method of this invention for forming the harnessplug assembly of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and illustrates the final step of themethod of this invention for forming the harness plug assembly of FIG.5.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the harness plug assembly of FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating another embodiment of themethod of this invention wherein the harness plug assemblies of thisinvention can be substantially continuously made.

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of another embodiment of theharness plug assembly of this invention formed by the method of FIG. 10.

tively interrupting opposed surfaces of the reading head whereby theflexible conduits can be secured to nipple extension means on onesurface of the reading head and a program control means can interconnectcertain of the fluid flow passages together in a predetermined patternon the other side of the reading head so that pneumatic fluid can bedirected in a predetermined pattern to various pneumatically operatedactuator means disposed remotely from the reading head and beinginterconnected thereto by the other ends of the flexible conduits.

This invention provides a harness plug assembly wherein a plug connectoris provided and has the body portion thereof secured to one set of theends of the flexible conduits and has integral means for interconnectingto the nipple side of the reading head whereby the assembly operation isgreatly simplified and through a unique arrangement of the nipple meansand plug connector of this invention, a more accurate and foolproofassembly operation is provided. Further, such pneumatic harness assemblyof this invention substantially avoids conduit shake-off duringsubsequent shipment of the apparatus having such a control system.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a harness plugassembly having one or more of the novel features set forth above orhereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method formaking such a harness plug assembly or the like, the method of thisinvention having one or more of the novel features set forth above orhereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a pneumatically operated controlsystem of this invention, FIG. 1 being taken on line 11 of FIG. 2. 7

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a top view of the mold assembly utilized in the method ofFIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 13- 13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 isa view similar to FIG. 13 and illustrates one of the steps inthe method of this invention.

FIG. 15 is also a view similar to FIG. 13 and illustrates another stepin the method of this invention.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken substantially online 16-16 of FIG. 1 1.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter describedand illustrated as being particularly adaptable for providing a harnessplug assembly means for a pneumatically operated control system for adomestic appliance or the like, it is to be understood that the variousfeatures of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combinationthereof to provide a harness plug assembly means for other devices asdesired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, a pneumatically operated program controlsystem of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral20 in FIG. 1 and includes a reading head plate or means 21 havingopposed surfaces 22 and 23 respectively interrupted by a plurality offluid flow passages 24.

A program controlling means 25 is mounted to the reading head 21 andcomprises a flexible reading sheet 26 interconnected to a rigid backingmember 27 to rotate in unison therewith relative to the reading head 21,the program controlling means 25 being interconnected to a bearing means28 and an on-off shaft means 29 mounted for rotational movement in atransverse bore 30 passing through the reading head 21. The programmeans 25 is rotated relative to the reading head 21 by a suitable timermotor 31 having its output shaft means 32 driving a pinion gear 33disposed in meshing relation with ring gear means 34 on the backingmember 27 of the program controlling means 25.

The flexible reading sheet 26 of the program controlling means 25 has aplurality of raised blisters or channel means formed therein which areadapted to respectively interconnect together one'or more of the fluidflow passages 24 passing through the reading head 21 in a predeterminedpattern to interconnect a pneumatic source 35, such as the inlet of avacuum pump or the like, to a pneumatically operated actuator means 36,such as a closed chamber of an actuator having a flexible diaphragminterconnected to suitable switch means or the like, to cause anoperating function of the domestic appliance utilizing the controlsystem 20 of this invention.

Because the actuator means 36, pneumatic source 35 and other devices aremounted remote fromthe reading head 21, a plurality of flexible conduitmeans 37 are utilized to fluidly interconnect such actuator means andthe like to the reading head 21 in a manner now to be described.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the rear surface 22 of the reading head 21is provided with a plurality of outwardly directed, substantially stubbyand rigid nipples or tubular extensions 38 each having a fluid flowpassage means 24 passing centrally therethrough in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 4. While the reading head 21 and the nipples 38 canbe formed in any suitable manner and of any suitable material, theembodiment of the reading head 21 utilized in the drawings has thereading head 21 and nipple means 38 formed as an integral structure andmade from a substantially rigid plastic material.

The harness plug assembly means of this invention for interconnectingthe fluid flow passage means 24 in the reading head 21 to the variousactuator means 35, 36, etc., is generally indicated by the referencenumeral 39A in FIG. and the reference numeral 39B in FIG. 6 with thedifference between the embodiments of FIGS.

, 5 and 6 merely being in the desired configuration thereof whereby onlythe harness plug assembly 39A and the method of making the same will bedescribed as such structure and method would equally apply to theharness plug assembly 398 of FIG. 6.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, a plug connector 40 is provided and is formedfrom a substantially flexible plastic material molded into theconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 7 to define a body portion 41 havingthe desired configuration defined by opposed flat surface means 42 and43. A plurality of relatively large tubular extensions 44 are formedintegral with the body portion 41 and extend outwardly from the surface42 thereof to provide integral means for interconnecting the plugconnector 40 to the reading head 21 in a manner hereinafter described.An opposed set of tubular extensions 45 are formed integral with thebody portion 41 of the plug connector 40 and extend outwardly from thesurface 43 thereof in aligned relation with the opposed tubularextensions 44.

A plurality of passage means 46 pass transversely through the bodyportion 41 of the plug connector 40 and respectively through the alignedtubular extensions 44 and 45 thereof as fully illustrated in FIGS. 7 and8, the passage means 46 passing through the tubular extensions 44defining enlarged cylindrical portions 47 and outwardly beveled surfaces48 adjacent the free ends 49 of the tubular extensions 44 while thetubular extensions 45 have beveled external surfaces 50 adjacent thefree ends 51 thereof.

The flexible conduits 37 previously described have their free ends 52telescoped over the tubular extensions 45 of the plug connector 40 inthe manner illustrated in FIG. 8 whereby the beveled surfaces 51 on thetubular extension 45 facilitate such telescoping operation, the flexibleconduits 37 being formed from a suitable flexible plastic and beingadapted to be force-fitted over the tubular extensions 45 tointerconnect the same together.

However, in order to insure a positive fluid seal between the flexibleconduits 37 and the nipples 45 of the plug connector 40, the tubularextensions 45 are coated with a softening solvent prior to the assemblyoperation with the conduits 37 whereby the solvent,v

generally indicated by the reference numeral 53in FIG. 7, causessubsequent bonding between the contacting surfaces of the flexibleconduit37 and nipples 35 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8 to providea substantially united harness plug assembly 39A as illustrated in FIG.8 whereby the conduit 37 cannot be readily displaced from the plugconnector 40.

After the harness plug assemblies 39A and 393 have been formed in themanner previously described, the harness plug assemblies 39A and 39B canbe readily secured'to the extending nipple means 38 of the reading head21 by merely telescoping the integral tubular extensions 34 of theconnectors 40 over the nipples 38 in the'manner illustrated in FIGS. 2and 4 whereby the beveled surfaces 49 in the tubular extensions 44 ofthe connectors 40 facilitate such telescoping operation and through thenatural resiliency of the tubular extensions 44, the same arepress-fitted over the nipples 38 to effectively interconnect the harnessplug assembly 39A and 39B thereto.

In this manner, the required assembly operation to properly interconnectthe respective conduits 37 in fluid communication with thefluid flowpassages 24 passing through the reading head 21 will not be a timeconsuming operation and the chance for error as in the past iseliminated whereby relatively unskilled labor can be utilized toproperly interconnect the harness plug assemblies 39A and 393 to thereading. head 21. Further, because a large number of nipples 38 areinterconnected to the assemblies 39A and 393, there is less tendency forthe assemblies 39A and 39B to be shaken-off during shipment of theapparatus as would be the situation when the conduits 37 are directlyand individually connected to the nipples 38 as in the past.

Accordingly, it is obvious that the nipple arrangement 38 on the rearsurface of the reading head 21 can be so constructed and arranged thatthe plug connector 40 can only be connected to the proper nipples 38when the particular connector 40 is oriented relative thereto to onlyone position which will permit full connection between the connector 40and the nipples 38.

Further, by proper coding of the conduit 37, the assembler can theninterconnect the other ends 54 of the conduits 37 to the proper actuatormeans 36, 35, etc.

While one method has now been described for forming the harness plugassemblies of this invention, a more automatic and continuous method forforming similar types of harness plug assemblies will now be describedand reference is made to FIGS. 10-16 wherein the method and apparatus ofthis invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 55 inFIG.

to substantially continuously produce harness plug assemblies generallyindicated by the reference numeral 56in FIG. 11.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 1, the embodiment of the harness plug assemblyof this invention includes a plug connector 57 having a body portion 58provided with opposed surfaces 59 and 60, the surface 60 carrying aplurality of integral means 61 for interconnecting the harness plugassembly 56 to the nipple means 38 of the reading head means 21 insubstantially the same manner as previously described. However, theintegral extension means 61 of the connector 57 each has a plurality ofthe fluid flow passage means 62 passing therethrough whereby theextensions 61 are tubular extensions each having a plurality of passages62 passing therethrough. The flexible conduits 63 are interconnected tothe other surface means 59 of the body portion 58 of the connector 57 ina manner hereinafter described and respectively have the passagesthereof disposed in fluid communication with the passages 62 passingthrough the connector 57 for the purpose previously described.

The method and apparatus 55 for forming the harness plug assembly 56includes mold means 64 illustrated schematically in FIG. 10 and indetail in FIGS. 12 and 13, the mold means 64 having a mold chamber 65interrupting the top surface 66 thereof and including an upper chamberpart 67 for forming the body portion 58 of the connector 57 and lowerchamber parts 68 for forming the extensions 61. In addition, a pluralityof mandrel means 69 form part of the mold means 64, the mandrel means 69having a lower cylindrical portion 70 for forming the passage means 62through the extensions 61 in a manner hereinafter described and havingupper smaller cylindrical portions 71 for positioning the conduits 63 inthe mold chamber 65 in a manner hereinafter described. The parts 71 and70 of each mandrel means 69 define a shoulder 72 therebetween for apurpose hereinafter described.

The mold means 64 of this invention are adapted to be serially movedfrom left to right in the apparatus 55 of this invention illustratedschematically in FIG. 10, such as being carried by a continuous conveyorbelt means 73 progressively indexing each mold means 64 through stationareas 74, 75, 76, 77 and 78.

As each mold member or means 64 arrives at station 74, the operatortelescopes the free ends 79 of the desired conduits 63 onto the smallcylindrical parts 71 of the mandrel means 69 until the ends 79 abutagainst the shoulders 72 thereof whereby the ends 73 are fullypositioned within the mold chamber 65 of the mold member 64 in thedesired predetermined relation. Since certain of the conduits 63 areonly required to be of a certain length relative to the other conduits63, the operator at the station 74 can properly position cutter means 80on a holder means 81 with the conduits 63 respectively being drawn fromfree wheeling supply rolls 82.

Thus, when the conduits 63 have their ends 79 properly positioned on themandrel means 69 in the manner previously described and as illustratedin FIG. 14, the operator can manually or automatically operate thecutters 80 to form the other free ends of the conduits 63 and sever thesame from the respective supply rolls 82 thereof.

Thereafter, the mold means 64 is indexed to the station wherein asuitable liquid plastic material 83 is fed from a hopper means 84 intothe mold chamber 65 to completely fill the same substantially to thelevel of the top surface 66 thereof in the manner illustrated in FIG. 15whereby the ends 79 of the conduits 63 are fully submerged in the liquidmold material 83.

For example, the liquid plastic material 83 can comprise a vinylplastisol that is 100% solids so shrinkage during subsequent curingthereof is very slight.

Thereafter, the filled mold means 64 is indexed to the station 76wherein the liquid plastic material 83 is cured by a heating means 85 tosubstantially integrally interconnect and form the connector 57 to theconduits 63 whereby the conduits 63 effectively interrupt the topsurface 59 of the connector 57 and are secured thereto as illustrated inFIG. 15, such curing temperatures being in the area of 325 F. or thelike.

Subsequently, the mold means 64 is indexed to the station 77 wherein themolded assembly is cooled by suitable cooling means 86.

At subsequent station 78, suitable ejector means can be provided forejecting the completed harness plug assembly 56 from the mold member 64so that the mold member 64 can be indexed back to the station 74 for asubsequent molding operation in the manner previously described. Forexample, the ejection means of the station 78 can comprise an airblow-off means 87 to eject the finished harness plug assembly 56 fromthe chamber 65 of the mold means64 in a manner well known in the art.

Obviously, the conduits 63 being fed from the supply roll 82 can be ofdifferent colors to aid the assembler in properly positioning the sameon the mandrel means 69 of the mold means 64 as well as to interconnectthe upper ends thereof to the subsequent pneumatically operated actuatormeans in the desired appliance or apparatus. Alternately, such conduitmeans 63 could be coded at the station 74 by tag means or the like asdesired.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention provides various methodsand embodiments to facilitate the assembly operation between a programcontrol means and the various actuators therefor in a simple andeffective manner so that unskilled labor can be utilized and accuracy ofassembling the system will be maintained.

Thus, not only does this invention provide an improved harness plugassembly means for pneumatically operated control means, but also thisinvention provides improved methods for making such harness plugassembly means or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed asrequired by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a reading head having opposed surfaces respectivelyinterrupted by a plurality of fluid flow passages, a program meanscarried by said reading head for interconnecting together certain ofsaid passages in a predetermined pattern on one surface of said readinghead, a plug connector having a flat platelike flexible body portionprovided with flat opposed sides spaced from each other by a continuousnarrow peripheral side surface of said body portion, said body portionhaving a plurality of flexible integral means interconnecting said plugconnector to the other surface of said reading head, said integral meansextending outwardly from one of said opposed sides of said body portionand being inwardly offset from said peripheral side surface thereof,said body portion and said integral means having passage means thereinrespectively disposed in fluid communication with said fluid flowpassages of said reading head, a plurality of conduit means respectivelyhaving ends thereof secured to said body portion of said plug connectorat the other opposed side thereof in inwardly offset relation .to saidperipheral side surface thereof in fluid communication with said passagemeans thereof whereby the other ing nipple means respectivelytelescoping with said tubular extensions of said plug connector tointerconnect said reading head and plug connector together.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body portion ofsaid plug connector has a plurality of tubular extensions extending fromsaid other opposed side thereof and wherein said first-named ends ofsaid conduits are respectively disposed in telescoped relation with saidtubular extensions to interconnect said conduits to said plug connector.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body portion ofsaid plug connector has said other opposed side thereof interrupted by aplurality of openings and respectively receiving said first-named endsof said conduits to interconnect said conduits to said plug connector.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plug connector isa flexible plastic material and wherein said conduits are flexibleplastic material.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said integral means ofsaid plug connector each has a plurality of said passage means passingtherethrough.

ll l

1. In combination, a reading head having opposed surfaces respectivelyinterrupted by a plurality of fluid flow passages, a program meanscarried by said reading head for interconnecting together certain ofsaid passages in a predetermined pattern on one surface of said readinghead, a plug connector having a flat plate-like flexible body portionprovided with flat opposed sides spaced from each other by a continuousnarrow peripheral side surface of said body portion, said body portionhaving a plurality of flexible integral means interconnecting said plugconnector to the other surface of said reading head, said integral meansextending outwardly from one of said opposed sides of said body portionand being inwardly offset from said peripheral side surface thereof,said body portion and said integral means having passage means thereinrespectively disposed in fluid communication with said fluid flowpassages of said reading head, a plurality of conduit means respectivelyhaving ends thereof secured to said body portion of said plug connectorat the other opposed side thereof in inwardly offset relation to saidperipheral side surface thereof in fluid communication with said passagemeans thereof whereby the other ends of said conduits extend away fromsaid reading head, and a plurality of pneumatically operated actuatorsrespectively interconnected to said other ends of said conduits.
 2. Acombination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said integral means of saidplug connector each comprises a tubular extension and wherein said othersurface of said reading head has a plurality of outwardly extendingnipple means respectively telescoping with said tubular extensions ofsaid plug connector to interconnect said reading head and plug connectortogether.
 3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bodyportion of said plug connector has a plurality of tubular extensionsextending from said other opposed side thereof and wherein saidfirst-named ends of said conduits are respectively disposed intelescoped relation with said tubular extensions to interconnect saidconduits to said plug connector.
 4. A combination as set forth in claim1 wherein said body portion of said plug connector has said otheropposed side thereof interrupted by a plurality of openings andrespectively receiving said first-named ends of said conduits tointerconnect said conduits to said plug connector.
 5. A combination asset forth in claim 1 wherein said plug connector is a flexible plasticmaterial and wherein said conduits are flexible plastic material.
 6. Acombination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said integral means of saidplug connector each has a plurality of said passage means passingtherethrough.